The Temple Mount and the Hijacking of Israel

I’m getting really frustrated, so I can only imagine how Jewish people living in and around the Temple Mount must feel! Imagine being told that you cannot go to the Temple Mount to pray; an area that was Jewish long before Muhammad happened on the scene.

Yet in today’s world, Jews are not allowed up there most of the time, and if they are allowed there, they are watched like hawks in case they start trouble. Trouble to the Palestinian Arab police officers who guard the Temple Mount usually means praying. Wow, imagine that, if a Jew goes to the Temple Mount to pray, it will cause trouble!

The question is, why will it cause trouble? It will cause trouble because Muslims now believe the Temple Mount to be holy for them. They believe the Dome of the Rock (also on the Temple Mount) is the very place where Muhammad “ascended” to heaven without dying. So, they have built a mosque over an area they consider to be sacred.

Because this area is sacred to them, Jews (and even Christians) who go there to possibly pray are considered a threat. This is at least one reason why Arabs hurl rocks at Jews who attempt to go up to the Temple Mount. Then, to make matters worse, the Jews are usually arrested, or nothing is done to the Arabs who throw the rocks.

Of late, even Christians have been kept off the top of the Temple Mount, while Muslims come and go as they please. Why is this allowed? Because so far, Israel has been afraid to flex her muscles, especially now that she can no longer count on the USA for support.

Of course, our own president has stated that virtually all Jewish settlements on the West Bank will go, that there will be two states and that Jerusalem will be divided, with the eastern portion (containing the Temple Mount), going to the Palestinians, with the western portion going to Israel. Of course, the eastern portion of Jersualem will become the Palestinian state capital.

Isn’t it interesting how, in spite of what the United Nations gave to Israel in 1948, the clock is being turned back. Now, the Palestinians (I’m still waiting to read about the specific culture, language and religion of Palestinians, as it differs from the rest of the Arab population), seem to have the world on their side all of a sudden and will apparently get what they have been clamoring for, long before Yassar Arafat allegedly died of AIDS. For the Arabs, this is a dream come true. The only thing that could be better would be for the Arabs to be able to expel every last Jew in the Middle East.

A day or so ago, a Jewish father and his betrothed daugher were visiting the Temple Mount (wow, how did THEY slip by the police?!). During their short visit, an Arab police officer “knew” that the father was “praying.” How did he know this? Because the man was “moving his lips.” Of course, the police officer could not hear what the man was saying, but the fact that he was moving his lips meant that he was, without doubt, praying!

Let this be a lesson to all Jews out there – when you are on the Temple Mount, do NOT move your lips when you speak! In fact, the better you are at ventriloquism, the better your situation will be, while visiting the Temple Mount. Yes ladies and gentlemen, learn the dying art of speaking without moving your lips, in order to fool your friends, coworkers and the Arab police officers on the Temple Mount. Amaze your friends, too! They’ll wonder how you do it. You’ll be the talk of the neighborhood and the toast of the town! Feel free to read more about this absurd incident here: Jewish Father and Daughter arrested.

I cannot imagine spending a ton of money to go to Israel, only to be forbidden from going up to the Temple Mount. That would be extremely frustrating to say the least. My problem is that I would likely make my frustration known, which would only make matters worse.

What is absolutely amazing now is not only that virtually the entire world now stands against Israel, but many are starting to demand that only the pre-1967 borders will be recognized. This is in spite of the fact that Israel was attacked, and she merely defended herself. Within two weeks, Israel gained what she lost, and added to her borders. Since then, Israel has constantly had to defend these borders.

Now, led by the Swedish president and the EU itself, Israel is being told that the post-1967 borders do not count. However, I cannot help but wonder if the Arab nations that originally attacked Israel in 1967 had increased their borders, would they now be told that they must return the land to Israel?

This rhetorical question needs no answer since it is obvious what the answer would be. Israel is being hijacked by a world that could care less about protocol and legalities. We are seeing aspects of Ezekiel coming to fruition before our very eyes.

One almost imagines that the Northern Invasion will occur any day now, as stated in Ezekiel 39:3-6

I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. And I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great host, all of them with buckler and shield, wielding swords. Persia, Cush, and Put are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all his hordes; Beth-togarmah from the uttermost parts of the north with all his hordes— many peoples are with you.

The above words are from God Himself. Notice that He is the One who will entice/cause Gog (the leader of the armies from the north), to turn toward Israel. Gog will then gather his troops, and with a multitude of people, will attempt to swoop down on Israel.

It is difficult for me not to believe that the Antichrist is not alive and walking this earth. I have no clue as to his identity, nor do I know when he will be revealed as the world leader. To believe somehow that he is not alive and working behind the scenes now is, in my opinion, naive. How much more time needs to go by before this man of sin comes to the forefront of the world’s stage, offering Israel a deadly deal; a deal, which he will ultimately break three and a half years into the Tribulation (70th week; see Daniel 9:24-27)?

Everything seems to point to the fact that we are at the very threshold of the start of the Tribulation. Certainly, the time is drawing short, so what does this mean for authentic Christians? Two things:

our redemption draws nigh

we are still to continue evangelizing the lost

We are to continue working until the Lord calls us home, either through our death, or the Rapture. We are not to sit on our rears, acting like couch potatoes, who have not a care in the world. People are dying, heading into eternity without Christ. They are Jewish and they are Gentile. Authentic Christians need to be pressing the point home to all people; whether they listen or not. Are you?